jaln, again i agree with most of what you had to say, most of everything that is being said is unsubstantiated and a rumor. But as you said it has created action in that our neighbors are talking and coming together, some good, some not so good, but that's okay too.

Jim Hamilton, as our new G.M. of our Paper said, there seems to be alot of hostility in people's blogs as your comment's adressed to me seemed to contain. A direct attack ? Your comment was dripping with hatred, Why? Are you hidding something ? Are you part of the problem with our HOA board ? Or are you just a knucklehead ?

I don't claim to be an expert nor have I claimed to be an expert on the Davis -Sterling act. (an Ex is a has been and a Spert is a drip under pressure ) is that you ? My blog from the very start was a question about the actions and desires of our HOA board and i looked up the Davis- Sterling act because the board used it as their basis for trying to abolish the qourum saying they HAD to bring our CC&R's into compliance with the new law and I asked the question "what does anyone know about it".

What I did learn from my research is that the Davis-Sterling act is not a law but suggestions on how to run an association and that there surely is not any new suggestions or rules or laws pertaining to how an association votes or a board changing the way we reach a qourum, nor changing the 2 year term of the standing board, i.e- rotating 2 this year, 3 next year and so on.

These blogs are people's oppinions and that is all, they are our oppinions, we have screen names because they kind of show our personalities, you can adress me as Charleybird. I Love Jazz music and especially Charlie Parker and this album cover that is why I'm Charleybird. You don't have a personality ?

I go to the meetings when I can. I help those that I like and care about, as I believe most of our neighbors would do, That is why I believe we could do better without an association, we don't need to be fighting our board members to get them to represent us in the way neighbors should act towards their neighbors. My oppinion is that there are hidden agenda's with with these board members and personal expendentures by these members, like useing OUR $ to print up 1100 pages to try to scare our neighbors into not looking at www.creativewireless.com, and the postage out of our pockets, or how Mt. Climmer road was bladed by our maintanance dep't because Mr. Smith lives on Mt. Climmer. I would like to see that money repaid.

This brings up jaln's comment about the Grand Jury investigating the mis appropreation of funds, - jaln, there is NO COST to file a complaint and it is NOT DIFFICULT to do so, they will investigate if they feel there is a need and the person or person's they are looking into would never know until they are arrested for whatever. So I encourage the filing of an investigation for mis use of our money and and representaion.

 I asked the same question. WHY ARE OUR BOARD MEMBERS MISUSING OUR MONEY ? especially now by mailing out to all property owners an unnessary discliamer to an unofficial website by one of our neighbors who is only trying to help all of us and has been trying for a very long time to get our board to come into the 21st. century like any other business by going paperless and by saving money on postage and envelopes and paper and copying. USE A WEB PAGE LIKE EVERYONE WANTS !  Why is the board refusing ?   How are they going to pay us back for this most recent unnessary expense ? - It needs to come out of their own personal pocket.

This blog is also unofficial as it pertains to our HOA , but it is officially my oppinions and anyone else who posts here. I too would like to ask the question.

WHAT IS SO OFFENSIVE ABOUT THIS BLOG AND THE WEB SITE AT www.creativewireless.com/-moday/ ? and I too thank you board members for the publicity. I don't thank you for your mismanagement of our funds nor for your personal spending of our funds.                      Mr Smith, who bladed your dirt road so nicely ? how did it get paid for ?

 This is my first visit to "our' web page and am very glad to see the participation, whether I agree with it or not.  I have a few comments though.  First, after experiencing the exercizing of "power" that our association has exhibited through our board, my wife and I have stated emphatically that we will NEVER again live in an "association."  We love the scenery and our neighbors, but the "Bonapart" mentatality of the board and some committees are a bit disheartening.  Secondly, there wasn't enough information in the survey to answer the question about dismising our office manager, nor about AFPPOA will ever get a website initiated.  Third, when we moved to Alpine Forest, i read in the CC&R's that the board meetings were to be held on Tuesday evenings, which meetings I could and wanted to attend.  After moving here I soon learned that "anticipating a lack of a quorum on Tuesday evenings the board meetings will be held on Saturday" (or something close to that).  Please correct me if I am wrong.  I am VERY interested in our association but cannot attend meetings on Saturday.  Fourth, if "rules" are to be enforced, then enforce them on everybody, not just on your special "target."  Fifth, after reading the February 16, 2008 minutes of our board meeting I am appauled at the callous ,hateful, and disingenuous letter written by Mr. Braslow (and apparantly read in public at the meeting) about Ms. Dufrain.  A person of this spirit should not be on our board or any other board.  Sixth, why is the board so fearful of this website?  Why did they go to such expense to send out a letter to all property owners to try to discredit it, even calling it candistine or some such word?  Why are they afraid of open discussion?  A free and open exchange of ideas is creative and productive.  The board members need to log on and share openly and frankly their concerns with our concrns.  And last but not least, about the Western Bludbird houses, we just had some old birdhouses that our kids made years when they were in a youth group and put them on our front porch/patio.  Bluebirds have been nesting and reproducing in one of them for at least 5 years!  It is a joy just to sit a few feet away and watch them try to "sneak" in the nest to feed their hatchlings.  Keep up the good work on your/our website.  If there are any meetings outside of Friday night and Saturday, please let me know.  I also appreciated the letter to the board by D & M Day.

Sincerely,

Randy Warkentin

 Randy, I'm glad to see another one of my neighbors logging on and commenting ( & it doesn't matter to me if your oppinions or comments are in line with mine.)

I wonder if our HOA meetings would be ruled by the Brown Act ? If so the board members would be in violation of a federal law on meeting in private.     Hmmmm.......

Moday, I can't get onto the web page.

 any update?

 ChiChiBug, I haven't heard anything new. Have you tried the web site at www.creativewireless.com/moday ? and have you got a password to log on to it ?    -   It has alot of interesting info.

I'm very tired of all of the shenanigans going on, I also don't know anyone very well here to nominate for the board, but this board needs to be cut off at the head.

Any suggestions on relacements ?

 Thank you, You know, I believe that MOST of our alpine neighbors are just that, Neighbors, we're not just the people next door but we're each others neighbor and we care about the well being of each neighbor.

This is why I KNOW we don't need to be paying for an association headed by selfish persons who don't act kindly to their neighbors but are only out for their own self interests.

I have no problem with helping out those who need or ask for help, I will grade the roads, plow the snow, work a shift at the guard shack if we all are self governed. Or whatever. We're not recieving anything for our money that we can't provide ourselves.

Be advised that if any AFPPO board member trespasses on my properties again they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We have video camera surveillance footage of trespass on horseback, on foot and by vehicle. We also have many hoof prints and excreta that is now being used to fertilize my rose bushes.

Our Class Action Suit against ALL the Alpine Forest Park Property Owners Association Board Member's is now in an advanced stage of preparation. One very foolish Board Member feels he is immune from such an action and he would be well advised to seek competent legal counsel at his earliest convenience. The class action suit brought against EPSON, the printter manufacturer, was very sucessfull and some of our settlement money was used to purchase additional computer equipment for our internet campaign!

California Class Action law is incomplete and when required reverts to English Common Law and that might well be a challenge for a local injury/accident attorney.

Next Saturdays Board Meeting promises to be loaded with action. A colleague of mine requested "Give 'Em Hell" and he certainly won't be disappointed! Do plan to attend  -  it should be a lot of fun.

Our local attorney will be present and our lead attorney from Washington D.C has also expressed a desire to weigh up the situation first hand.

Pergite

Now we all wait for the new Board to be elected. Wise words of advice to all you prospective candidates...

1) Don't even think about raising Home Owners fees - Cut your costs instead.

2) Take advantage of the Home Owners web site, unlike the retiring Board who wasted both time and money resisting it. Effective Internet use could save you both time and money. Moreover you cannot ignore it's popularity - now with considerable  non-resident membership giving  them power, with easy  e-mail access to a 2/3 majority vote, which could bring an end to the AFPPOA.

3) Do whatever you can to urge Maria McAlister to return to the Chalet as our Office Manager. Home Owners want her back and without her your work will be much increased and complicated.

4) Home Owners want transparency and accountability without the secrecy and tyrannical rule of the past.

Pergite

What is the reason for Maria's resignation ?   Our HOA fee's pay for everything here, WE (the property owners) decide who to hire or fire, NOT the temporary acting board. If there is a problem with a hired hand it needs to be brought up at a meeting and voted on by all of the property owners, just like getting rid of idiot board members, we vote them out. If Maria was being harrased, as it appeared to me when I saw her being talked down to then she needs to complain to the association as a whole and we need to hear her complaints publicly and we decide who quits or gets fired for creating a hostile work enviroment.

I hope Mr. Smith, your paying attention to this and you use the few brain cells you have left and beg Maria to return and to not file any charges against you personally.  I'm saying this now, as I have been, YOU are incompetant and need to GIT ! I will not be held liable for your incompetance or harrasing ways.

What recourse does an employee of Alpine Forest have, or avenue to complain about their work enviroment ? There needs to be an acting H.R. person or we as an association CAN and WILL be held liable for the boards incompetance.

Good old Charlie Bird. We all appreciate your comments. The present and soon to retire Board under self appointed President Smith should go down on their hands and knees and apologize to our office Manager Maria McAlister, begging her to return.

She has suffered enough and she should be re-instated before the new Board takes office or the very election process itself will be impeded. The resultant work load without her should be suffficient to encourage them.

Does the present Board have the sensitivity or the guts to do it?  AN INTERESTING QUESTION. At least it would give them a last chance to redeem what is now widely recognised as a failed administration.

Pergite

This website is great but 85 comments from 14 users is not vary impressive nor does it carry much clout.  It is a great beginning but we need a lot more participation to accomplish anything of value unless we want this site to deteriorate into just a venting forum.  We need to do something do get people acquainted with this website.  Also, as bad as some things are in Alpine, it does not help to be hostile to those who are at fault.  If I read the disclaimers above this comment box correctly it says: "no profanity or personal attacks."  I haven't noticed any profanity but I can't say the same for personal attacks.  We can change things without being like that.  I know, it really riles you to see some of the stuff going on here,  but honey attracts more bees than vinegar.  I have been badgered by the powers that be myself.  Do we need change?  Yes.   Does "our" association have some problems?  Yes.  But only 14 people going back and forth isn't enough.  We need a lot more folks involved.  Sorry I don't have all the answers but chew on this view a bit and see if we can't come up with some ideas.

Randy Warkentin

1462 views is impressive! That means a lot of people are viewing this site. I agree with rgwarkentinr that civility woks best. I am all for keeping our guards & Homeowners Association. I am one of the ones who have a hard time staying involved and committing myself to a cause no matter how important.

The Association needs to bring themselves into this decade and get an official website and rehashing what needs to be done is absolutely important to the Home Owners in Alpine. Communication is a valuable tool. Lets all stay rational and civil in our communication so that what we say is respected and valued.

I have just received the following unsolicited e-mail from one of our non-resident Alpine property owners who writes...

I just found out Maria no longer works for Alpine Forest. Not sure why, but I know one thing, she was the best person for that job. She helped us in so many ways. I just can't imagine that office without her. Its been very hard to build there, and she was always there helping in anyway she could. Without her holding that office together, I think it is all down hill from now on. I'm now thinking about selling our property.

Donna Christensen

Thank you Donna.

We called the office this morning and they are certainly in state of chaos, not even aware that some potential candidates don't even know of the 'Meet The Candidates' meeting this coming Saturday evening.

Is this yet another intentional ruse to hinder the election so two of the old board members run unopposed? Their computer is now offline and they are very confused to say the least

Pergite

Well it maybe time to start  in on thing that are going on!!!

Maria was a very good office manager , years ago she had taken over after my x wife left and there was a lot to learn in a short time ,Shelly had help set up the office with new comp. /software and getting Alpine full up on are own , we had a lot things to take over ! Shelly was good at it and help Maria step right in.

OK I getting real Ty ired of holding back and keeping Quiet about all the things that are going on and even some of things being said about Alpine by some of the people right here! ,Some you have a lot to learn about   'Alpine' ? ask me about the History       it my open your eyes? to some of the things that keep getting through-en out there?

I have NOT heard about (so far) about the 'Meet the Candidates'  I did happen to see it at the (unoff. ) Alpine site? and will be here.  Wow 2008 and still no site!!!

Would you really like to know about the pool and tennis court ! how about the trash ! maybe the roads! ask me sat.!  just be there! alpine is were you live or do you?

Dean Warren:}